Big 12 baseball final regular-season power rankings and look ahead to NCAA regionals
Big 12 baseball teams are gearing up for the conference tournament this week at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The 12-team bracket — single-elimination for the first time — unfolds Wednesday, May 21, through Saturday, May 24.
Then all eyes will be on the NCAA bracket reveal. The Big 12 has a lot of good, not great, teams. How many will be invited to an NCAA regional? Six have made it each of the past two years. The newest projections from The Tennessean and D1Baseball both forecast eight.
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No one seems to think more than one Big 12 team will be a regional host. But which one, No. 23 West Virginia, the regular-season champion, or TCU, has the higher RPI?
More: Big 12 baseball tournament bracket: TV schedule, seeds, game times for 2025 championship
More: Kansas baseball wraps up regular season with 3-game sweep of Big 12's No. 17 West Virginia
Here's a look at where each team stands going into conference tournament week.
1. West Virginia (40-13, 19-9 in the Big 12)
Last week: 1
What to know: An Arizona State loss to Oklahoma State wrapped up the Big 12 title for West Virginia on Thursday, May 15. Still, getting swept at home by Kansas — and shut out twice — doesn't help the perception that the Mountaineers benefited from a soft schedule.
2. Arizona (36-18, 18-12)
Last week: 3
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What to know: Wildcats' 10-8 record vs. Quad 1 is easily best in the Big 12. Their bumbling against bottom feeders was the problem.
3. Arizona State (35-21, 18-12)
Last week: 2
What to know: Sun Devils should snap a three-year streak of missing the NCAA tournament, but were swept in Stillwater to end the regular season.
More: Arizona State AD states his case for future of Olympic sports at the university
4. TCU (37-17, 19-9)
Last week: 4
What to know: With 16 regional sites and TCU's No. 17 RPI, Horned Frogs are on the bubble to host.
5. Kansas (42-14, 20-10)
Last week: 6
What to know: The sweep in Morgantown sends the Jayhawks into the postseason on a high note. The program's single-season wins record — 45 in 1993 — is well within reach.
6. Cincinnati (31-23, 16-14)
Last week: 5
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What to know: Bearcats last made the NCAA tournament in 2019 and, before that, in 1974. At 25th in strength of schedule and 35th in RPI, they belong.
More: Cincinnati Bearcats baseball helps NCAA bid chances with series win over Kansas State
7. Oklahoma State (27-22, 15-12)
Last week: 8
What to know: Cowboys have finished strong, going 9-1 in their last 10 conference games.
More: How former Oklahoma State baseball coach Gary Ward is sharing wisdom with Cowgirl softball
8. Kansas State (31-23, 17-13)
Last week: 7
What to know: Snubbed in 2023 with a 35-24 record, K-State coach Pete Hughes beefed up the schedule. It paid off last year when the Wildcats got in and won Arkansas' regional. They've mostly done their part again this year with a No. 27 strength of schedule and No. 33 RPI.
The Big 12 tournament at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, will feature a 12-team, single-elimination bracket. The tournament is scheduled from Wednesday, May 21, through Saturday, May 24.
9. Baylor (33-21, 13-17)
Last week: 9
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What to know: Bears are moving in the right direction with 11 more wins than last season, but the road ends in Arlington.
10. Texas Tech (20-32, 13-17)
Last week: 10
What to know: Texas Tech's gone from hosting five regionals in a row (2016-21) to making two regionals (2022-23) to missing out two years in a row.
More: What's ahead after Zane Petty's 5 no-hit innings leads Texas Tech baseball to win at BYU
11. Houston (29-24, 12-17)
Last week: 11
What to know: Cougars about to miss sixth consecutive NCAA tournament after making four in a row from 2014-18.
12. Central Florida (29-26, 9-21)
Last week: 12
What to know: Unexpected comedown for a team that last year won 37 games, including a regional opener against Alabama.
13. Brigham Young (27-26, 10-20)
Last week: 13
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What to know: Cougars won Game 1 in seven Big 12 series, so beware, Arizona State.
14. Utah (21-29, 8-22)
Last week: 14
What to know: Utes looking forward to 2026 and $35 million Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 baseball power rankings: Looking ahead to NCAA regionals
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